CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fantasia Barrino, a former winner of "American Idol" who is starring in the movie "The Color Purple," said she was discriminated against by an Airbnb owner in Mooresville, claiming her family was forced to leave the property they rented for her son's 12th birthday party.
"My stomach is so uneasy this morning as I'm riding back to my home in the cold and rain," she posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. "I don't say much when people do me wrong, but I can't stay quiet on how my family and I were just treated from a host with @Airbnb @airbnbhelp trying to kick my kids and I out at 12:00 midnight."
Barrino said the property's host claimed the group was having a party with loud noises outside. The singer acknowledged they had a party, but anything outside happened during the day, including a game truck for the kids. She also claimed they had reserved the property for the number of guests who spent the night at the party.
Fantasia said in an Instagram video that she was contacted by the property owner around 11:30 p.m., hours after the kids were put to bed, for multiple noise complaints. That's when the singer says they were asked to leave the home.
"It's evident to me this was racial profiling and the treatment we received was due to the color of our skin," Barrino's post says. "I wanted my son to enjoy his friends (10-12) and make him feel special as I have been traveling for the last 35+ days promoting a movie I starred in. This time, I dare not stay quiet."
The North Carolina native wrote that the home's game room and amenities made it appear like guests often had parties and held large gatherings on site. Fantasia later clarified that she didn't leave with the kids at midnight, saying on Instagram they left at 6 a.m. on Sunday.
"So, at 6a, in the freezing rain, with sleepy kids, we loaded up 4 vehicles, respectfully cleaned and organized everything back to its original place and we left," an Instagram post reads. "Logistically, some of the children had to be immediately taken home, with one stating they didn't want to go home. I didn't deserve to look or feel like I let my son and the other kids down."
Airbnb responded to her post on X, saying the company does not condone discrimination "in any way." WCNC Charlotte has reached out to Airbnb for more information. So far, that request for comment hasn't been answered.
Barrino plays Celie in the 2023 reboot of "The Color Purple." The movie premieres in theaters on Christmas Day. This is Fantasia's second time playing Celie, as she played the role in the Broadway version of the show between 2005 and 2008, shortly after she won "American Idol" in 2003.
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